Recipes With a Twist
vegetables
Methi Malai Paneer
Aug 26th
Methi Malai Paneer
This one is for mom. While growing up paneer based dishes used to be a staple in our house and I cannot even remember how many different kinds my mom, grandmother and my aunts could make! (I grew up in a large family and shared about 12-13 wonderful years under one roof with my parents, brother, grandparents, aunts and uncles, great grandmother and most adorable cousins.Few weeks ago we had planned a dinner with our friends and I don’t know from where I started thinking about this indulgent paneer dish my mom used to make. I thought of More >
Creamy Pesto Macaroni
Aug 18th
Creamy Pesto Macaroni
I wanted to try making it ever since I noticed my son liked a ‘Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta’ from a local Italian restaurant. That inspired me try making Basil Pesto Sauce and this is what I made first using the Pesto sauce. This is not a perfectly low calorie dish. I can say it might be lighter than what I have looked online for an easy Alfredo or white sauce. It makes a creamy, indulgent and very flavorful pasta (thanks to the Basil Pesto) that I think everyone should enjoy once in a while. I used elbow macaroni as my More >
Brown Lentils and Collard Greens Soup
Jul 26th
Brown Lentils and Collard Greens Soup
This post is long overdue. Last few days it was little hard to keep up with things. Even though it is getting late at night, I decided today I will make an effort to get back on track .I made this soup few weeks ago as I experimented with these two ingredients: Brown Lentils and Collard Greens. I had tried both of them in separate recipes and my son enjoyed them all. This time I wanted to make something with both greens and lentils with a mild flavor that my son will enjoy as well. It More >
Mili-Juli Sabzi (Mixed Vegetable medley with chickpeas)
Jun 5th
Mili Juli Sabzi-mixed vegetables medley
Here is very easy Indian dish that just needs few minutes of preparation and needs very little attention while cooking. Mixed vegetables are traditionally made with several variations using different combinations of vegetables like peas, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, peppers and the list is endless. Basically whatever you have on hand . Last time I made it, besides using some of my favorite vegetables, I also added chickpeas (garbanzo beans) to add some protein and increase the nutritional content.You need: 2 cups chopped carrots 2 medium potatoes, chopped 1 cup boiled chickpeas (you can use More >
Tortellini with roasted vegetables
May 27th
Tortellini with Roasted Vegetables
Here is a great example of under 500 calorie dinner. Very easy to prepare and great on taste buds. 500 calorie dinners are part of Fitness magazine’s popular diet plan when combined with moderate exercise helps you lose weight in a healthy manner.
Tortellini pasta is anyways filling and addition of roasted vegetables adds a lot of flavor and bulk without adding too many calories.
You need:
1/2 cup boiled tortellini pasta (I used 3 cheese filling) 1/2 cup pasta sauce (about 90 calories ) 3/4 cup roasted vegetables 1 tsp grated parmesan cheese dash of Tobasco or red pepper flakes (optional)
1. More >
Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Reduced Fat)
Apr 22nd
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
I am a big fan of Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar soup. Although I usually prefer lowfat/or at least reduced fat soups, I usually can’t resist this soup on a cold (even rainy) afternoon. I have tried a few recipes from different sources and all were way too rich. So I made few changes, increased quantity of carrots and blended the soup for a creamy and rich texture. Last weekend I made a big batch for my family – served soup and toasted bread for adults and as pasta sauce for little one. I boiled macaroni (overcooked) and mixed with More >
Moong Dhuli Dal Khichdi with Mustard Greens and Spinach
Apr 11th
Moong Dhuli Dal Khichdi with Mustard Greens and Spinach
Khichdi is a popular dish all over India specially Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Bengal. It is usually made with rice and lentils (there are several variations using different types of lentils) as a base and vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, peas, sqash, spinach, potatoes, etc. are added in different combinations. Rice and lentils are cooked until very mushy and vegetables usually seem to disappear. It is considered as a very healthy dish – carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins all in one dish and is traditionally offered as early food to babies/ toddlers when they first More >
Quick Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice
Apr 8th
Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice
Here is a 15 minute meal that tastes great and is loaded with great stuff- assortment of vegetables, garlic and rice. This recipe is based on ‘Indian style Chinese’ food we get in local fast food/restaurants in India and I am sure is different than any traditional Chinese fried rice recipe. But these are the flavors we have grown up with and still enjoy even living thousands of miles away from India. It tastes best if you have cold leftover rice. I usually plan ahead and cook more white rice couple of days before I want to More >
Cheese tortellini in creamy spinach sauce
Apr 1st
Cheese tortellini in creamy spinach sauce
I make this creamy spinach sauce when I am just not in a mood for regular heavy alfredo or even any store bought pasta sauce. I also put lot of spinach and it is in disguise so ‘not so spinach lovers’ may not even notice. Although, I think I can put even little bit more spinach than what I put last time I made it. My little one also likes this sauce with rice.You need: 1/4 cup cream (whipping cream/fresh cream) 1 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen, thawed) 1 cup tomato sauce (you More >
Karahi Paneer
Mar 3rd
Karahi Paneer
I like MDH Karahi Chicken Masala and use it pretty often when I make a chicken curry dish such as ‘Karahi Chicken’. I used the same masala this time to make a vegetarian dish – Karahi Paneer. Paneer is a form of cottage cheese that is prepared in a number of ways- scrambled, curries, stuffed and so on. It can be very easily made at home and when in a pinch can be bought from almost all Indian stores. Paneer dishes find their way in most North Indian menus.Karahi Paneer is a mildly spiced yet a flavorful dish with undernotes More >
